Comparisons and advocacy

Hi everyone,

There's nothing like spreading a bit of FUD (Fear, Uncertainty & Doubt)!

Usually the OLnews email newsletter is reasonably balanced - but it seems like mention "open-source" and all ideas of find out before you speak go out of the window...

and I quote:

1. CORPORATE OPEN-SOURCE LMSs

Who has experience with implementing an open-source learning
management system (LMS) in a corporate environment? "Most of the open-source LMSs (e.g., Moodle) that have been discussed previously are for academic purposes, with strengths in things such as professor-student interaction."

"We're looking for strengths in the ability to interact with HR
data, to set up approval processes to take courses and just-in- time modules, etc." The reader would like to hear about others'
experiences with such LMSs, including recommendations and lessons learned.

Here is a reader response:

http://www.col.org/Consultancies/03LMSOpenSource.htm
The Commonwealth of Learning evaluated open-source LMS systems, says Patti Shank ( patti@learningpeaks.com ). "Looks like the last update was June 2003 and they liked these the best: ATutor, DotLRN, ILIAS, LON-CAPA and Moodle."

Shank is managing partner and chief reality-check officer at
Learning Peaks LLC, an instructional technology consultancy in
Denver, Col.

And, here is a vendor response:

First, make the distinction between an LMS and a CMS (course
management system), says Philip Baruch (baruch@maxit.com ). "A
true LMS can manage any kind of learning experience (online,
classroom, on-the-job, off-site), whereas tools such as Moodle are primarily online, virtual classrooms. If that's what you need, then Moodle sure can be an attractive option."

Baruch argues that the open-source model, however, is not well- suited for enterprise, corporate learning management. "You start with the fact that common learning management needs are horizontal across any industry that must train workers, but tend to have additional highly vertical needs based on uniqueness for that industry." The medical industry, for instance, he says, has requirements around Federal Drug Administration (CFR 21 Part 11) issues. Meanwhile, the legal and financial industries must comply with CLE/CEU tracking regulations.

"For an open-source LMS to be viable beyond a knockoff for WebCT and Blackboard, it must be able to manage all facets of the different learning experiences or easily configure to support [them]," says Baruch. "Most open-source LMS systems seem to attack exclusively the need for online learning and ignore other deliver[y types] -- which is [how] most training is still delivered. None have implemented to AICC or SCORM standards that I am aware of, and none can adequately manage other training deliveries or support learning management
workflows."

"At the end of the day, you have the appearance of cost savings with the challenges of version control, implementation and support. So you bring in your team of developers and you have a whole different set of expenses, plus the growing legal challenges [surrounding] different open-source licenses and intellectual property."

Baruch is a technical manager at MaxIT Corporation, an LMS provider in Jacksonville, Fla.'

You'll be able to find this online in the vnulearning archive at some point: http://www.vnulearning.com/archive.htm

A knockoff for WebCT and Blackboard!!! Hmmph :-0

All the best,

Mark